Phonograph



IN VEN TOR.

h P E.

A. A. JOHNSON PHONOGRAPH Aug. 6, 1935.

Original Filed March 9, i928 Patented Aug. 5, 1935 Arthur A. Johnson,

Bridgeport, to Dictaphone Corporation,

Conn.,. assignor Bridgeport, Conn,

a corporation of New York Application March 3, 1928, Serial No. 260,364 Renewed October 20, 1934 "16 Claims. (o1. 274- 21) This invention relates to dictating machines, and in a more specific aspect to dictating machines of the transcribing type.

Anobject of this invention is to facilitate the operation of the device, to improve its performance, and to decrease the assembling cost; one of theoutstanding improvements herein disclosed being .the provision of means for positively centralizing the stylus relativeto the'sound-boxafter the back-spacing operation has been performed, said means being actuated by the back-spacing means.

Another object of this invention .is to provide means to centralize the stylus and back-space thecarriage by the operation ofasingle ilever.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment ofthis invention- Figure l is a top plan view of parts shown in Fig. 2, the sound-box and frameyportions being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of part of a dic- Y tating machine, showing one embodiment of the by a link 19 to applied thereto. machine shown in the ac-- comprises a carriage in present invention as The phonographic companying drawing movable longitudinally carriage rods i I and t2, forming part of the frame of the machine, under able feed-screw it when engagedby a feed-nut M. The carriage ill is provided with a head portion !5 adapted to support a sound-box 16 for reproducing the sound recordedon a record I? adapted to be mounted on a record-support i8 rotatably supported on the frame, The soundbox H5 as usual comprises a diaphragm connected a'lever 28 which has, at its forward end, a reproducing stylus 21 which engages the record l'l,

For the purpose of allowing the stylus i l to move vertically, i. e. toward and from the recordsupport it, to accommodate itself to records of different thicknesses, 'thestylus lever, 20 is pivotally mounted at 22 on a floating support 23 having a horizontal pivot 24 in a plate 25 whichis fixed in the carriage frame against vertical movement.

The stylus is normally held in engagement with the record ll by the Weight of the fioatingsupport 23 and by the tension of a spring 25 which is fixed, at one end to the plate25 and at its other end to the support 23. i

Asusuai, but in a new way below referred to, the support 753 and related stylus 2! have only a limited downward movement under the infiuence of the support and spring 26.

The stylus is'also allowed to track the :record, 1'. e. laterally follow Q screw I3. To accomplish thisgthe lever 2 5 "is provideduwith a pivot-pin 21 which is supported at its u perend inasleeve 2B and has abearin at its lower end in The side walls which it carries. floating support 23, which carries the stylus 2|, has only a limited range of free lateral movement in which to track the record.

being angularly disposed relative to the surface of the record-support. As the operator pushes the record further onto the record-support, the engagement of the record-end with the side of the guard 32 pushes the support 23 sideways until movement is stopped by g 3|, continued movement of the record on the record-support causesthe end of the record to act as a cam on the guard 32 to force up the carrier 23 and related stylus 2| until the record end engages the stylus 2! to-complete the rais- The record is then further moved to engage a (not shown); of 'the record-support.

and floating supmovedllaterally with respect to the transverse center line of the sound-box, and remain in this condition until the-record-support is caused to rotate, whereupon the carrier 23, due toits balanced mounting, and partially under-the influence-of a spring 26 and the natural drag of the stylus on the record I], causes it to immediately and automatically assumea substantially central position with respect tothe sound-box 15,

After a recordis placed on the record-support it, it may-be caused to rotate by any method of control common to this .type of machine. The feed-screw i3 rotates coordinately with the record-support and causes the carriage to move longitudinally of the recordiwhereupon the stylus 2!, which is :then in engagement with the record, cooperateswith the diaphragm to reproduceany sound which may he recorded upon the record.

In using-the machine, the operator sometimes finds itnecessary to have-a very small ,portion of the record surface repeated, and consequently desires to back-spacethe carriage a small extent. Tofacilitate this, dictationmachines have heretofore been, and the machine of thepresentinvention :provided with mechanism to backspace the carriage. 'The back-spacing mechanism selected for the purpose of illustrating the present invention comprises a back-space lever 33 rotatably mounted on a tubulanbearing 34 2 forming part of the carriage Iii, and the lever 33 is provided at its top portion with a lug 35 pivotally carrying a pawl 36 which has a limited range of movement. This lever is normally held in inoperative position as seen in Fig. l, by a spring 31 which is enclosed in a collar 38 held on the tubular bearing E l by a screw 39.

When the back-space lever 33 is operated, the pawl 35 engages a rack it secured to suitable supports on the frame and forces the carriage backwardly a predetermined extent. To further back-space the carriage, the back-space lever 33 may be repeatedly operated. The back-spacing mechanism, as far as above described, is of usual form such as is disclosed in the patent to Macdonald, No. 1,030,740, June 25, 1912. In the present case, however, the back-spacing mechanism has been modified to obtain several results which will hereinafter be described.

It should be especially noted that the present invention provides on the pawl 36 means adapted to disengage automatically the pawl from operative relationship with the rack Ml after the backspace lever 33 has been moved a predetermined extent, thus allowing continued movement of the back-space lever without further moving or backspacing the carriage. In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a cam M preferably made intergral with the pawl to engage the tops of the rack teeth or other portion of or near the rack after the pawl proper has back-spaced the carriage a predetermined extent, the cam then acting as a fulcrum to move the pawl out of engagement with the rack teeth.

Because the kind of feed-mechanism shown in the Macdonald patent is illustrated herein, it is necessary to disengage the feed-nut Hi from the feed-screw it while the carriage is being backspaced. This is accomplished, according to the present preferred embodiment of this invention, by the provision of a cam portion 12 formed integral with a tubular portion it of the backspace lever 33 adapted to engage an extension is on the pivotally mounted feed-nut l4. As shown in Fig. 1, the relationship of these two parts is such that normally the feed-nut is allowed to move and engage the feed-screw under the influence of a spring 65, but upon depression of the back-space key 33 the feed-nut is cammed out of engagement with the feed-screw it, after which the pawl engages the rack to back-space the carriage a predetermined extent. After this back-spacing has been finished, the pawl, according to this invention, is moved out of engagement with the rack by the cam portion ll of the pawl, and upon further movement of the back-space lever, the extension M permits the feed-nut i i to again move under the influence of its spring 15 and engage the feed-screw. The purpose of the second feed-nut engaging position will hereinafter be more fully described. Thus, the present invention provides a feature of particular importance for, by controlling the feednut in this direct manner, machine construction and operation are simplified, as it is unnecessary to provide the usual auxiliary lever l6 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the purpose of which, as is well known to those familiar with the art, is to condition the machine to be moved by hand.

Supported on the head i by studs 68 and 49, which pass through apertures 50, is a slide or bar ll. These apertures permit a limited range of sliding movement of the bar All. A spring 5| fits within an aperture 5i in the carriage head it, one end engaging an end of the aperture as at 52 and the other end engaging a struck-up portion 52 of the bar M, and serves to normally keep the bar in inoperative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bar is provided with a slot 53 at its lower end which accommodates an upstanding pin portion 54 of a pawl stud 55 and serves as an operating connection between the back-space lever 33 and the bar M. This slot is of sufficient length to allow the back space lever 33 to be rotated until the pawl has performed its normal back-spacing function, and the cam portion ii of the pawl moves the pawl to inoperative position before the pin ri l engages the end of the slot 53 to move the bar ll upon furtherdepression of the lever 33.

At the opposite end of the bar 41 there is provided a struck-up member 5'13 which is held thereon by pins 51. This member is struck-up to form a V 58, the apex of which is formed as a slot 59, the slot portion 59 being on the center line transversely of the carriage with respect to the sound-box it. This member 56 serves to positively centralize the stylus 2! with relation to the sound-box in a manner hereinafter described.

Although in its preferred form as shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the slot 59 is centered upon the transverse center line of the sound-box, it will be understood that a degree of tolerance may be allowed in the location and width of this slot so long as the position and width of the slot are such as to cause the stylus to assume a position relatively central with respect to the limits of its range of free lateral movement.

The bar A"! is operated to positively centralize the stylus incidental to the operation of backspacing the carriage with the lever 33. When the operator desires to back-space the carriage, he merely presses on a finger-piece fit of the backspace lever causing the pawl 3% to operate in the manner hereinbefore described. After this, the pin 54 engages the end of the aperture 53 to move the bar M forwardly against the pressure of the spring it. When the carriage is so back-spaced, the floating support 23, because of the engagement of the stylus 2! with the record, lags behind the carriage. However, when the bar t? moves, a pin 6i on the floating support engages the V 58 and slot 59 to move the stylus to centralized position. The side walls of the V serve to limit lateral movement of the support 23 relative to the sound-box by the pin 6i engaging either wall as seen in Fig. 2, and a cross strip 58 stops the drop of the pin 6i and thus limits movement of the stylus and support toward the record-support l8.

As the operator depresses the finger-piece 60 of the back-space lever, further rotation of the tubular portion t3 after the pawl 36 has performed the back-spacing function, causes the pin 54 to engage the end of the aperture 53 and pull the bar forwardly against the pressure of the spring M. The side walls of the V 58, engaging the end of the pin 8! of the floating support, move the support toward the transverse center line of the soundbox, and, with the continued depression of the finger-piece, the I-shaped member 58 on the bar l'i moves forwardly until the pin 5! enters the slot portion 59 of the member 56. In this position the carrier 23 and related stylus are positively centralized relative to the sound-box.

Thusit will be seen that with the mechanism,

engagement with the rack 43; and

up the floating according to the present invention, the carriage is back-spaced a predetermined extent; the pawl inoperative by being forced out of the v and slot member 56 on the bar picks support and moves the same to a centralized position with respect to the sound-box; The slot 59 is proportioned toprevent lateral movement of thepin when inthis position, ited up-and-down movementof the stylus and but allows a limfioating support .with respect to the record. Thus it will be seenthat as the support 23 and related stylus is moved from the lagging position to a centralized position with respect to the soundbox,-the stylus 26 is free to rideup and down over the record grooves and thus there. is no dang-er of marring or damaging the recorded surface of the record. This method of centralizing the stylus is very advantageous, for the action is positive and by it a very simple and trol is provided which greatly facilitates operation of the machine.

It should be noted at this point that a dwell ,62 and a second cam portion 53 are provided on the tubular section 43 of the back-space lever 33. nut to rotate and engage the feed-screw again momentarily after the carriage I ll has been back spaced and while the floating support pin El en- The purpose of this dwell minor differences between the spacing of the carriage and the relationship of the feed-nut with thefeed-screw, so that these two members will be positively in line when the back-space lever 18 fully released, and thus the carriage It will not be further moved and adversely aifect the centralized position of the stylus and floating support as would occur if the feed-nut and feed-screw moved longitudinally relative to each otherif they were only brought. into engagement after the pin t! is disengaged from the slot 59. i Besides accomplishing the function of automatically back-spacing the carriage asmall predetermined extent as just described, the backspace lever 33 can, according to the present invention, be further utilized for the purpose of moving the carriage forwardly or backwardly major extents by the simple expedient of merely pushing the carriage ineither-desired direction While the back-space lever lfi is 'fully depressed. With thislever so depressed, the pawl 36 will be in disengaged position, i. e. with the cam portion 4| on the tops of the rack teeth or other abutment and the centralizing member 55 of the slide will be in operative position holding thefloating support 23 and related stylus against lateral movement while allowing free Lip-anddown movement.

With the machine so conditioned, the carriage may be moved to any desired position longitudinally of the record, as there will be no interference to the free movement cfthe carriage, for, due to the engagement of the pawl cam M on the rack teeth, the pawl will merely ride over the tops oi these teeth, and the feed-nut, which is now held out of engagement with the feed-screw by the cam-portion 63, cannotimpede this free movement. M

While it is possible to forward or back-space the carriage in this manner for movements of large extent, the advantageous feature of having the stylus and carrier positively centralized with respect to the sound-box is maintained, for when he lever is released, the feed-nut M will be in 3 proper relationship with the feed-screw and the stylus 2i and carrier 23 will be positively centralized with respect to the sound box after the centralizing member is moved to inoperative position.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others. 9

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which, it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is:-

1. In a phonograph, the combination of a rotatable record-support; a carriage movable along said record-support; a sound-box on said carriage; a stylus on the sound-box having a limited range of free tracking movement relative to the sound-box along said record-support; means for back-spacing the carriage along the recordsupport while the stylus is in record-engaging position; and means operated by said back-spacing means to centralize the stylus relative to the sound-box after the carriage has been backspaced. 7

2. In a phonograph, the combination of a 1'0- tatable record-support; a carriage movable along said record-support; a sound-box on said carriage; a stylus on the sound-box havinga limited range of free tracking movement relative to "the carriage back-spacing means comprising a pivoted lever adapted to eifect back- 1 spacing in one part of its movement and to actuate the means to centralize the stylus relative to the sound-box upon further movement.

4. In a phonograph, the combination of a carriage, a sound-box on said carriage, a stylus carriedbythe sound-box and having a limited range of free lateral movement relative to the-sound box, means to backspace the carriage, and means operatively associated with said backspace means adapted to move the stylus to a predetermined central position, said means operating after the carriage has been backspaced.

5 In a phonograph, the combination of a car-- riage; a sound-box on said carriage; a stylus carried by. the sound-box and having a limited range of free lateral movement relative to the soundbox; means to back-space the carriage; and means operatively connected with said backspace means to cause the stylus tojassume and hold a predetermined position relative to the sound-box after the carriage has been back-spaced.

6. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame, a rotatable record-support on the frame, a carriage longitudinally movable along theframe, a sound-box on the carriage, a stylus mounted on the sound-box, a floating support for the stylus having a limited range of free tracking moveto backspace the carriage, and means operatively associated with said backspace means and acting after the carriage has been backspaced unconditionally to move the floating support to a predetermined position within said range of free lateral movement.

'7. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame; a carriage movable on the frame; a stylus movably mounted on the carriage; carriage advancing means comprising a feed-screw on the frame and a. cooperating feed-nut on the carriage; means for back-spacing the carriage comprising a lever on the carriage; means on the lever to first lift and then hold the feed-nut out of engagement with the feed-screw while the back-spacing operation takes place; and means actuated through movement of said lever to positively locate the stylus in a predetermined position relative to the carriage after the carriage has been backspaced.

8. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame; a carriage movable on the frame; carriage advancing means comprising a feed-screw on the frame and a cooperating feed-nut on the carriage; means for back-spacing the carriage comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the carriage; and means comprising a member provided with alternate cam and dwell surfaces and actuated by depressing the pivotally mounted lever to first lift and then hold the feed-nut out of engagement with the feed-screw while the back-spacing operation takes place and to allow return of the feed-nut into engagement with the feed-screw after the carriage has been back-spaced while the lever is in depressed position.

9. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame; a carriage movable on the frame; carriage advancing means comprising a feed-screw on the frame and a cooperating feed-nut on the carriage; means for back-spacing the carriage comprising a lever rotatably mounted on the carriage; and a cam on the rotatably mounted lever adapted to allow feed-nut engagement with the feed-screw when the lever is in normally nonactuated position, disengage the feed-nut from the feed-screw when the lever is rotated for backspacing, allow feed-nut engagement with the feed-screw upon further rotation of the lever after the backspacing operation has been performed, and again disengage the feed-nut from the feed-screw upon further rotation of the lever.

10. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame, a. carriage movable on the frame, a sound-box on the carriage, a stylus, a floating support for the stylus movable laterally relatively to the sound-box, and a spring-biased member mounted on the sound-box and slidable away from its biased position to act directly on said floating support for positively centralizing the floating support with respect to its path of lateral movement.

11. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on the frame, a soundbo-x on the carriage, a stylus, a floating support for the stylus movable laterally relatively to the sound-box, and a spring-biased member mounted on the sound-box and slidable away from its biased position to act directly on said floating support for positively centralizing the floating support with respect to its path of lateral movement, and means on said member adapted normally to limit the lateral movement of the floating support.

12. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on the frame, a soundbox on the'carriage, a stylus, a floating support for the stylus movable vertically and laterally relatively to the sound-box, and a spring-biased member mounted on the sound-box and slidable away from its biased position to act directly on said floating support for positively centralizing the floating support lateral movement, and means on said member adapted normally to limit the lateral and downward vertical movement of the floating support.

13. In a phonograph, the combination of a support for a record; sound-reproducing means comprising a stylus mounted for a range of free lateral movement in which to track the record; manually operated means for shifting said stylus backwardly towards the beginning of the record by causing the same to skid or glide over the record-surf ace with said stylus-shifting means for causing the stylus to assume and hold a predetermined central position with relation to said sound-reproducing means after said backward movement has been effected without record.

14. In a phonograph, the combination of a support for a record; sound reproducing means comprising a stylus mounted for a range of free lateral movement in which to track the record; means for shifting said stylus backwardly toward the beginning of the record by causing the same to skid or glide over the surface of the record; and means actuated independently of the bodily movement of said sound-reproducing means and operated by the means for shifting the stylus backwardly for causing the stylus to assume a central position in said range of free lateral move- .ent after completion of backspacing movement.

15. In a phonograph, the combination of a support for a record; sound-reproducing means comprising a stylus mounted for a range of free movement in which to track the record; means for shifting said stylus upon the record by causing the same to skid or glide over the surface of the record; and means actuated independently of the bodily movement of said sound-reproducing means and operated by the means for shifting the stylus for causing the stylus to take a position within said range of free movement after completion of said shifting movement.

16. In a phonograph, the combination of a frame; a carriage movable on the frame; carriage-advancing means comprising a feed-screw on the frame and a cooperating feed-nut on the carriage; means for backspacing the carriage comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the car riage; means comprising a member actuated by depressing the pivotally mounted lever to first lift and then hold the feed-nut out of engagement with the feed-screw while the backspacing operation takes place and to allow return of the feed-nut into engagement with the feed-screw after the carriage has been backspaced while the lever is in depressed position; and means actuated through movement of said lever positively to lock the stylus in a predetermined position relative to the carriage after the said re-engagement of the feed-nut with the feed-screw.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

with respect to its path of and means operatively connected lifting the stylus from the 

